Tool for applying seal caps



Mafch 20, 1934-. w SAMPLE 1,951,491

TOOL FOR APPLYING SEAL CAPS Filed Nov. '7. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 20, 1934. F. w. SAQMPLE 1,951,491

TOOL FOR APPLYING SEAL CAPS Filed Nov. 7, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l, 5 5 (M Q 1 \i 27 H I 21 Q I 2 F. w. SAMPLE 1,951,491

TOOL FOR APPLYING SEAL CAPS March 20, 1934.

Filed NOV. 7. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 6 29 Z0 Z? March 20, 1934. F w, SAMPLE 1,951,491

TOOL FOR APPLYING SEAL CAPS Filed Nov. 7, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 7 U I 1 156 I L56 J 25 la a.)

r 0 2 m g; 41 h \I T W53 I V a 10 Z JO 1' 19 a 22 r, x 5 g 22 //j g L214- p Q i 15 0 a Patented Mar. 20, 1934 TOOL FOR APPLYING SEAL GAPS Fleck W. Sample, Chicago, Ill., assignor to American Flange & Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application November 7, 1931, Serial No. 573,695

2 Claims.

My invention relates to a sealing tool and has to do particularly with a tool of this character adaptedfor the securement of seal caps to the closure structure of metallic containers used, for

5 example, in the storing and shipping of gasoline, oil, and the like products. My invention is well adapted to the securement of a closure seal cap over the outer beaded end of an annular flange which defines an opening in a wall of the container.

In closure structures of the foregoing character, it is desirabie that the closure cap be depressed as a whole to, in turn, compress a suitable gasket between the cap and bead to effect a closiue and seal.

been found that the depression of the cap should be effected without application of any substantial axial pressure to the flange since, if that should occur, there would be a tendency toward distortion of the relatively thin wall of the container resulting in an improper closure and seal and destruction of the further utility of the container. I

One object of my invention is to provide a tool which is adapted to grippingly engage the side wall of the closure cap and move the same radially inward against and along the flange bead to depress the cap without permanent distortion of the closure structure or container wall and also adapted to simultaneously and uniformly contract the circumference of the cap side wall to snugly engage it with the closure structure behind the bead. v

A further object is to provide means ,selfcentering the tool upon the cap so as to insure uniform engagement of the cap engaging means.

of the tool throughout the circumference of the cap side wall without angular displacementof the tool, thereby insuring uniform depression of 40 the cap upon the flange and uniform compression of the seal 'gasketbetween the cap and the bead.

Other objects and advantageswill become apparent as this description progresses andby reference to 'the drawings wherein,-

Figure 1 is an elevational view of one of-tool embodying my invention; I Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical-sectional view of the tool shown in Fig. 1; a

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; i

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the tool in expanded position upon the closure structure, the closure structure being shown in horizontal section (taken just below the seal cap of Fig. 5

In practice, it has form and looking up) to illustrate the position of the tool with respect to the seal cap thereof;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the lower portion of the tool, taken substantially on line 55 of Fig. 4, and further illustrating the position of the tool with respect to the closure structure which is shown in vertical section;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 except showing the position of the tool with'respect to the seal cap during an early stage of actuation of the tool to secure the cap;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, except showing the tool in the stage of actuation illustrated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. '7, except showing the tool fully contracted to finally depress and secure the seal cap upon the closure structure; and

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Figs. 4 and 6 except illustrating the tool in the position of Fig. 8.

One form of closure structure to which my invention is well adapted is shown in Figs. 4 to 9, inclusive. More particularly, the container wall 10 is provided with an opening 12 defined by an outwardly extending, annular flange 11. A bush- 8o ing 13 is'snugly fitted within the flange 11 and it is provided with a lateral flange 14, preferably, of octagonal shape which fits in a similarlyshaped pocket formed in the container wall at the base of the flange 11 to prevent rotation of the bushing. The outer end of this bushing is extended and so shaped as to be rolled outwardly and upon the outer end of the flange 11 to provide a bead 15 thereat. In this manner, the bushing is securely fixed in place in an air-tight, leakproof manner but, if desired, a suitable gasket structure may be interposed between the wall of the pocket 10 and the bushing flange 14. The bushing 13 is internally threaded to receive a threaded plug 16, the top of which terminates approximately flush with the top of the bead 15. .It 7 is desirable that this closure be sealed to prevent undetectable tampering with the plug 16 and to further positively guard against leakage of the container contents even under -the most severe storage and transportation conditions. end' a seal cap 17 is secured over the plug 16 and To this bea'd'l'5, and my invention has to do particularly with the securement' of this cap.

The container wall 10"and"flang-e11'are comparatively thin-walled and it is obvious that if high pressure were applied to the flange 11 and container wall in axial direction there would be distortion of the same preventing the proper closing and sealing of the container opening. 4 My no head 15 for translation of the axial movement ,of the tool actuating parts into axial direction; and the tool is arranged to simultaneously and uniformly contract the sidewall of the cap into engagement with the flange :11. behind thejbead Specifically, the tool which I have chosen to illustrate my invention comprises a center stem body or supporting member 19'which screw threadedly supports at its lower end the hub 20 of a spider, the bifurcate. arms 21 of which pivotally support, as at 22, a plurality of (preferably 'four) pressure members 23. Thesemembers are each, of identical shape and are so shaped and formed that in their assembled, closed position they provide an annular, segmental, bell-shaped pressure structure. Each segment or member 23 of this pressure structurev is of general wedgeshape in outline with its outer face of arcuate contour. The lower, arcuate edgeof each ofthe members 23 is extended uniformly inwardat substantially right angles to provide an inwardly projecting ledge or jaw '24 having an arcuate, substantially square-edged work-engaging. face 24 The upper surface 24 v of each jaw tapers downwardly toward the work to be engaged for a purpose which will become obvious hereinafter. The

upper end of each of the members 23 is extended upwardly beyondthe pivot 22 and is provided with a groove 25 inits outer edgeto: receive and retain a spring'ring 26-whichtends to hold the lower jaw edges of the members 23 swung outwardly away from the work (Figures 2, 4 and'5) in a so-called expanded condition. In; this condition the jaw faces 24: (Fig, 4) are disposed in a circumferential path slightly spaced radially from the outer edge of the-cap. skirt 179;. however, when the members 23; are closed together as will be explained, the circumference of the combined inneredges of thejaw faces 24 is less than the normal circumference of the cap-skirt, and this circumference approximates ence of the flange 11'.

The members 23 are expanded and contracted as-follows: A bell-shaped or cup-shaped member 27, which is normally positioned with its low-- er edge raised a predetermined extent, surrounds and engages the outer arcuate faces ofthe members or segments 23 (Fig; 2). The segments 23 are contracted toward their closed position by movement of the member 27 downward as will be obvious from Figs. "7 and 8. The upper end of the member 27 is provided with a central, cylindrical extension 28, which slidingly engages the center stem 19, and this extension is provided with edgewise, diametrically-opposed wings 29 to which operative mechanism for reciprocating the bell member is connected. This operative mechanism, preferably, takes the .formof a crossmember 30 screwed upon the upper end of the stem 19 and locked in adjusted position by a-nut The opposed, bifurcate ends of the crossmember 30 pivotally support, as at 32, the lower ends of operating handles 33. The lower end of each handle, at a point laterally and vertically olfset with respect to the pivot 32, as at 34, is also the outer circumfer-.

- pivotally connected to alink 35, which is, in turn,

pivotally connected, as at 36, to the adjacent wing 29. With this toggle-like operating connection, it is obvious that movement of the handles 33 laterally away from each other, causes downward movement of the bellmember 2'! and, in

turn, movement ofv the pressure members 23 radially inward. The opposite action-takes place 'when the handles 33 are moved toward each,

other.

It .will be appreciated that for positive securementvand sealing of the cap upon the closure structure, it should be depressed to a uniform extent throughout its circumference, thereby uniformly compressing the gasket upon the top of the bead 15 throughout its circumference. Such uniform depression is also desirable to effect a uniform securement of the cap skirt or side wall behind the bead 15 against the outer wall of the? .flangell. To the foregoing end, I provide means for positively centering the tool upon the cap 17 with the jaw faces 24 assuming a predetermined, uniform position with respect to the lower portion of the cap skirt 17 Specifically, the lower end of the center stem 19 supports, within the spacedefined by the pressure members 23, a bellshaped centeringhead 37, the diameter of the an- .nular rim 37% of, which approximates the .diameter of the top of the cap 17. This head 37, which bears a fixedrelationship with respect to the pressure members 23, positions the tool in the properhorizontal position-with respectto the cap and tends toprevent angular displacement or cooking of the tool thereupon as the tool is operated. If desired, to further aid in centering of the tool upon the work and to facilitate proper positioning-of the; head 37 thereupon, the cross head 30 ,may support a plurality of (preferably four) legs 38, which normally assume a spaced relation-withrespect to the containerwall, Fur thermore, these ,-legs aid in supporting .the tool and protecting the pressure members 23 when the tool is not in use.

In the form shown in the drawings, the head ,37 is fixed tov theflower part of the stem 19 by a center screw 39 and it is spaced -a ,predetermined extent with respect to the worleengaging jaws 24 by a washer 40 interposed between the head and the bottom of the stem; however, if desired 7 the washer 40 ,may be dispensed with and the head 37 screwed directly on (or otherwise fixed) to the bottom of the stem 37. ,In either case, the head 37 is'so fixed with respect to the tool structure, and its size and-position is such with respect to the work-engaging jaws- 24, that it serves merely as a centering means and does not exert cap-securement pressure axially-lupon the cap 17 in the securement of the latter;

In operation, the tool is first positioned upon the top of the cap 17 as clearly shown in Fig. 5. It will be noted that the cap skirt 1'? is long enough toproject its free edge below what I may term the center or diameter of the bead: 15 as indicated at 0 (Fig.5). In this position of the tool, it will also be seen that; with the head 37 seated upon the top of the cap, the work-engagf ing faces 24 of the jaws 24 assume a position wherein, when moved radiallyinward, they will grippingly engage the capvskirt near its free edge and this engagement will be at substantially uniform depth around the entire circumference of the cap skirt. Also,as will be observed from Fig. 6, since the radius of the work-engaging faces 24 of the closed pressure structureis less than the radius of the cap wall, the end edges 24 of the work-engaging faces in their expanded circumferential condition approach more closely to the cap side wall than do their center portions; wherefore, as the tool is actuated to contract the members 23, the cap side wall is first grippingly engaged by the end edges 24 of the work-engaging faces. As the handles 33'are moved apart, the radially moving jaw faces 24 first seize the lower edge of the cap skirt or side wall as just stated and gradually engage the cap wall throughout their surface and move the cap wall inwardly against the head 15 somewhat below the diameter of the latter as illustrated in Fig. '7. Obviously, as this action takes place, the side edges of the members or segments 23 move closer together, contracting the working diameter of the pressure structure and gradually contracting the circumference of the cap.

Continued movement of the pressure members radially inward with the gripped cap side wall along the curved bead surface results finally in the pulling down or depression of the top of the cap 17 substantially to the position shown in Fig. 8. At this time, as shown in Fig. 9, the pressure structure is substantially fully contracted and the 1 diameter of the gripped cap wall is contracted into snug engagement with the outer wall of the flange 11 behind the bead 15.

The depression of the cap 1'7 and gasket is permitted by the ability of compression of the gasket 18 which, as shown in Fig. 8, is, in the final position of the tool, compressed to substantially onehalf, or less, of its original thickness. In other words, the gasket is compressed to substantially the extent of the vertical drop of the jaws 24 and head 37, less the very slight vertical displacement of the lower end of the jaws 24 occasioned by their arcuate travel. Since, during this movement, the relative vertical spacing between the ends of the jaws 24 and the bottom of the head 3'7 does not change except for that slight amount afforded by the arcuate movement of the lower ends of the jaws 24, it is obvious that the head 37 does not at any time function to apply any substantial downward pressure to the top of the cap in the depression of the same. Any pressure effect the head 3'7 may have on the cap is merely incidental to the weight of the tool and the pressure exerted by the operator in moving the handles 33 in certain working positions in which the tool may be used. This pressure, does not permanently distort the container wall and, whatever it may be,

does not effect actual cap securement but merely aids in firm and uniform seating of the cap upon the bead 15 for the proper cap securement action of the tool.

With the foregoing arrangement and operation the cap is depressed to the same extent substan tially throughout its circumference thereby uniformly compressing the gasket 18 and effecting a uniform seal. Due to the contraction of the lower edge of the cap skirt against the flange.

wall behind the bead 15, the cap is held fixedly in this depressed condition and a positively leakproof, air-tight closure and seal is afforded. In fact, practical demonstration has shown that the closure and seal afforded by the cap applied according to my invention is so positive that it alone will withstand pressures as great (and even greater) as the container itself without leakage. Whereas if desired, in certain instances, a cap applied according to my invention may serve as the sole closure means, the plug 16 being omitted. In other cases, a wooden or other lightweight plug may be substituted for the metal plug 16 and such Furthermore, the securement of the cap afforded by my invention is so positive that it cannot be removed without special provision therefor. In other words, to provide for removal of this cap, the cap top may be provided with a scored section which may be broken through by a suitable tool and torn away through the cap skirt to loosen the latter and free the cap as a whole. Obviously, a closure of this character, in addition to the foregoing advantages, insures against undetectable tampering with the closure.

While I have shown only one form of tool embodying my invention, it will be understood that changes in details and arrangements of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof my .invention as defined by the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A hand tool for securing a closure cap over an opening having an externally-rounded bead surrounding its entrance, which comprises a sup porting member, a head carried by said member and fixed against axial movement and adapted to seat upon the top of'the cap under the pressure I exerted only by the weight of the tool as a whole for centering and positioning the tool thereon, means including jaw members movable radially inward to grippingly engage the side wall of the cap throughout its circumference to simultaneously move the same radially inward and uniformly contract its diameter, said head uniformly predetermining the depth of engagement of said jaws with the cap side wall and initially positioning said jaws to move said cap side wall initially against said bead with the point of pressure application directly upon the rounded surface of said bead, and means for moving said jaws simultaneously and radially inward to similar extent, the relation of said jaws to said bead being such that said jaws are adapted to be dis placed axially by and behind the head to move the cap axially upon and behind the bead by continued radial movement of said jaws, said headaud-jaw relationship being maintained during this movement so that said initial relationship of said head and cap remains substantially constant during said axial displacement movement of said jaws.

2. A hand tool for securing a closure cap over an opening in an object which comprises a supporting member immovable except in transportation and application of the same by hand to the cap, an annular head carried by said member and fixed against axial movement and adapted to normally seat under the weight of the tool only upon the top of the cap in the initial application of the tool to the cap for the purpose of centering and positioning the tool thereon, and means for engaging the side wall of the cap to move said jaws radially and circumferentially to similar extent to provide a side-wall-engaging face having a diameter greater than the diameter of the cap side well, said side-wall-engaging face of each jaw being shaped to grippingly engage and hold the side wall of the cap as said jaws are contracted laterally, and said jaw contracting means being movablerelative to said head to contract 

